The association of abnormalities on physical examination of the hip and knee with locomotor disability in the Rotterdam Study.

To assess the influence of abnormalities found on physical examination of the hips and knees on disability 1156 men and 1739 women aged > or = 55 yr (the Rotterdam Study) were asked about locomotor disability (LD) using six questions of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). The prevalence of LD was 20.2% for men and 31.9% for women. Moderately restricted range of motion of the hips and knees occurred in 34.5% of the men and 38.6% of the women. The prevalence of instability of the knees was 12.5% for men and 16.8% for women. Varus deformity in men (10.1%) and valgus deformity in women (15.0%) were the most common deformities of the knees. Restricted flexion of the hips was the strongest determinant of LD. Age-adjusted odds ratios for restricted hip flexion of LD were 4.7% (95% CI: 3.2-6.8) for men and 3.5 (2.7-4.5) for women. Valgus deformity, knee instability and obliquity were risk factors only in women. Adjustment of these odds ratios for morning stiffness and joint pain did not alter the estimates.